Sinusitis Treatment Cost

How Much Does Sinusitis Treatment Cost?

Sinusitis[1] is a common condition in which the sinuses become inflamed as the result of a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection. It can range from acute, in which symptoms last up to four weeks, to chronic, in which symptoms last three months or longer, and may be triggered by colds and allergies, a deviated septum, or polyps, among other things. Symptoms can typically be improved with self-care measures and treatment.

Typical costs:

Over-the-counter aids to treat mild sinusitis typically cost $2-$25. For example, Walgreens Saline Nasal Spray[2] costs $5. Other remedies, including oral decongestants such as Sudafed[3] and over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen[4] cost about $5-$25, depending on the quantity and whether the patient buys a name brand or its generic equivalent.

Those seeking medical treatment would do so through an office visit with a primary care physician. For patients covered by health insurance, out-of-pocket costs typically consist of a copay of $10-$50 or more, or coinsurance of 10%-50% or more. For patients without health insurance, an office visit typically costs $50-$200 or more.

A doctor may prescribe an injected, nasal, or oral corticosteroid, such as Prednisone[5] (about $12 for a one month supply of generic 20 mg, or a copay of about $2.50-$8 for patients with health insurance) to help relieve symptoms.

If allergies are triggering the problem, immunotherapy may help. For a patient not covered by health insurance, allergy shots usually cost about $100 for the vial of allergy serum and about $20-$100 per visit for the administration of the injection, depending on whether a doctor or nurse administers the shots and whether more than one shot is administered.

If symptoms fail to improve with conservative measures, persist after three months, or are re-occurring, endoscopic sinus surgery may be necessary, at a typical cost of $7,000-$30,000 or more, depending on the type and amount of tissue removed. Related procedures, such as a septoplasty to repair a deviated septum, can cost another $6,000-$30,000 or more, bringing total costs to $13,000-$60,000 or more for a combined surgery. Separate diagnostic tests, doctor fees and/or a hospital stay for patients with fragile health (these procedures are normally done on a outpatient basis) can bring total costs to $20,000-$80,000 or more. The Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center[6] in Lincoln, NE, estimates that in 2012-13, endoscopic sinus surgery cost $8,166-$28,170, depending on the specific procedure performed.

A doctor may diagnose[7] sinusitis by feeling for tenderness in the nose or throat and doing a visual test to look for inflammation, polyps or other abnormalities. He or she may also use a CT scan, MRI, cultures or other methods.

Treatment[8] will center on curbing inflammation and eliminating the underlying trigger. Treatment typically lasts 10-14 days for acute sinusitis and three

to four weeks for chronic sinusitis.

Endoscopic sinus surgery[9] to improve the drainage of the sinuses will be performed under general anesthesia and done on an outpatient basis.

Additional costs:

A humidifier may help to reduce congestion and prevent future cases of sinusitis. The cost of a table top or room humidifier depends on factors such as output, size and additional features, and can cost $25-$100 or more. For example, the Essick Air 2.7 Gallon Tabletop Humidifier[10] which has a fairly simple design and two-speed motor costs $36, while the Sunpentown Portable Air Cooler with Ionizer, which can be used as a fan or air cooler as well as a humidifier, costs $95. A whole-house humidifier can cost $200-$1,050, or $600-$1,600 for steam models.

Discounts:

Outlets such as Costco[11] and Walmart[12] often sell prescription and over-the-counter drugs at significant savings. Walmart, for example, has a prescription drug program[13] that includes certain generic drugs at commonly prescribed dosages.

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services suggests patients ask for a free sample or trial prescription of a drug, or ask doctors whether a less expensive over-the-counter drug may be sufficient to treat the condition.

Many hospitals offer discounts of 30% of more to uninsured/cash-paying patients. At St. Joseph Hospital[14] in Orange, CA, for example, patients without health insurance may qualify for a 45% discount off billed charges.

They will also be offered an additional 10% discount if payment is made within 10 days of receiving a bill.

Shopping for sinusitis treatment:

Ten states have tools on their websites that allow consumers to compare the costs of drugs in nearly all pharmacies within their states.

When buying drugs online, make sure the website carries a Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS)[15] seal from The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. If the web site is Canadian, make sure the site is certified by the Canadian International Pharmacy Association[16] .

The American Medical Association has a free search tool[17] to help patients locate doctors nearby.

Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.

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I am scheduled for endoscopic sinus surgery and repair of nasal septum at St Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln, NE, the same center you quoted in your price quote. You quote the endoscopic sinus surgery at an average of $8204 at St E's. For a repair of nasal septum, you quoted in the $7000 range for St E's. However, they have quoted me $78,530.01 for these combined surgeries! I would like to know where you are getting your information. Who are you speaking with at St E's and why are they quoting you a much different price than they are quoting me?

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